category: SummerBlogs
- Rob's Summer Blog
Week 8
![](http://bdml.stanford.edu/uploads/Main/SummerGeckoRob/BDML1.jpg)
The Awesome BDML Crew
- I am truly grateful to Mark, Tony, and the entire BDML crew for opening the doors to their world for me. I'm not sure if they realize how extraordinary the day-to-day work they do here is. As an outsider, I arrived everyday and was awe-inspired every minute I was there. I am struggling to develop an appropriate answer when people back in regular life ask, "Hey, what did you do this summer?" I keep coming back to, "You had to be there, really." It doesn't adequately capture the experience, but echoes at the inexplicable
![](http://bdml.stanford.edu/uploads/Main/SummerGeckoRob/LAS11.jpg)
1st Iteration-Laser Alignment Sensor
- Worked on multiple iterations on CAD for the Laser Alignment Sensor
- Lowered main wire/electronics compartment box to allow clearance inside CNC mill
- Added wire pass-throughs to connect to battery
![](http://bdml.stanford.edu/uploads/Main/SummerGeckoRob/LAS16.jpg)
2nd Iteration-Laser Alignment Sensor
Door detail showing magnet cavity
![](http://bdml.stanford.edu/uploads/Main/SummerGeckoRob/LAS17.jpg)
2nd Iteration-Laser Alignment Sensor
Lowered main wire compartment box
![](http://bdml.stanford.edu/uploads/Main/SummerGeckoRob/LAS18.jpg)
2nd Iteration-Laser Alignment Sensor
Interior view
- Completed 36" x 48" poster for the poster session this Friday. 3-1/2 page bibliography, which is not on the poster, is the reason why I tend to lay awake at night pondering the implications. I went for the fabric printing for durability. Now to see how people react...
Week 7
- Took multiple trips to the Rapid Prototyping Lab (Room 36) with Joel to see the laser cutting process
- Spoke with Dan Somen, manager of Room 36 about laser cutter maintenance and process, as well as effective teaching approaches
- Amar showed Joel and I how to set up and operate the Haas CNC
- Amar completed resurfacing and milling 5 Gecko adhesive molds
- I helped refill the Sylgard 170 silicone and casted 2 flexible-backed and one rigid-backed Gecko adhesive strips
![](http://bdml.stanford.edu/uploads/Main/SummerGeckoRob/Laser.jpg)
Room 36 Laser Cutter
![](http://bdml.stanford.edu/uploads/Main/SummerGeckoRob/CNC.jpg)
Amar aligning microtome blade with
Laser Alignment Sensor on CNC
![](http://bdml.stanford.edu/uploads/Main/SummerGeckoRob/CNCmold.jpg)
Aligning microtome blade to wax on CNC
- Worked on the Ignited poster for our poster session on August 2nd
- Continued modeling the Laser Alignment Sensor
- Encountering challenges making the modifications robust and ready for laser cutting
- Wilson offered some excellent CAD strategies:
- Building outward is usually easier
- Focus on key dimensions
- Have a good vision of its entirety
- Plan for future modifications so geometries and symmetries are not compromised when size changes occur
![](http://bdml.stanford.edu/uploads/Main/SummerGeckoRob/autonomous.jpg)
The Marty autonomous vehicle
![](http://bdml.stanford.edu/uploads/Main/SummerGeckoRob/Robotarm.jpg)
The Robot testing arm
- Jeff O'Connell, a math teacher from Ohlone in the Autonomous Vehicle Lab arranged a tour of their garage. Awesome!
- Helped Amy set up for photo shoot with the robotic arm. She is testing 1,000 grabs using the Gecko adhesive to measure material degradation
Week 6
![](http://bdml.stanford.edu/uploads/Main/SummerGeckoRob/LASo.jpg)
Current Laser Alignment Sensor modeled by Arul
- Began work on Onshape creating an electronics enclosure for the Laser Alignment Sensor
- The Laser Alignment Sensor allows for proper alignment of the Microtome blades on the Haas CNC mill
- The gecko adhesive molds are manufactured on this mill
- Observed an awesome presentation by BDML crew to the ~30 high school students in the Stanford Stars summer program that has a biology focus
![](http://bdml.stanford.edu/uploads/Main/SummerGeckoRob/LAS.jpg)
Current Laser Alignment Sensor back
![](http://bdml.stanford.edu/uploads/Main/SummerGeckoRob/LAS1.jpg)
Current Laser Alignment Sensor front
![](http://bdml.stanford.edu/uploads/Main/SummerGeckoRob/Haas.jpg)
Haas CNC Mill
Week 5
- Removed excess Kapton tape from demonstration devices to improve functionality
- Additional training on Onshape
![](http://bdml.stanford.edu/uploads/Main/SummerGeckoRob/Gripper.jpg)
NASA Bi-Stable Gripper on Onshape
![](http://bdml.stanford.edu/uploads/Main/SummerGeckoRob/Device.jpg)
Demonstrating Gecko Adhesive
![](http://bdml.stanford.edu/uploads/Main/SummerGeckoRob/Tape.jpg)
Excess Kapton tape removal
Week 4
- Finalized assembly of NASA Bi-Stable Gripper
- Amar taught me how to create the backing for the Gecko adhesive
- Tony showed me how to remove Gecko adhesive from the mold and make the demonstration devices
![](http://bdml.stanford.edu/uploads/Main/SummerGeckoRob/Test.jpg)
9. Making demonstration device
![](http://bdml.stanford.edu/uploads/Main/SummerGeckoRob/Cut.jpg)
8. Gecko adhesive trimmed
![](http://bdml.stanford.edu/uploads/Main/SummerGeckoRob/Tony.jpg)
7. Tony Chen demonstrating the process
![](http://bdml.stanford.edu/uploads/Main/SummerGeckoRob/Peel.jpg)
6. Peeling the Gecko adhesive from mold
![](http://bdml.stanford.edu/uploads/Main/SummerGeckoRob/Soak.jpg)
5. Soaking to remove water-based adhesive
![](http://bdml.stanford.edu/uploads/Main/SummerGeckoRob/weight.jpg)
4. Applying weight during cure
![](http://bdml.stanford.edu/uploads/Main/SummerGeckoRob/press.jpg)
3. Removing silicon bubbles
![](http://bdml.stanford.edu/uploads/Main/SummerGeckoRob/Prime.jpg)
2. Priming the Kapton film
![](http://bdml.stanford.edu/uploads/Main/SummerGeckoRob/Gluing.jpg)
1. Fixturing the Kapton film
Week 3
![](http://bdml.stanford.edu/uploads/Main/SummerGeckoRob/ML.jpg)
d.school's I Love Algorithms card deck
- Assembled NASA Bi-Stable Gripper parts in Onshape
- Worked on putting NASA Bi-Stable Gripper parts in Onshape
- Attended d.school's Machine Learning Workshop
- They want as many people as possible to be involved in the conversation regarding Machine Learning algorithms
- Machine Learning simulations need to be done ahead of time to make sure unintended, negative, or dangerous results do not effects users
- Their I Love Algorithms card deck explains six common machine learning algorithms: Classification, Clustering, Reinforcement Learning, Dimensionality Reduction, Regression, and Association. Each algorithm is explained in three ways: (1) Cartoon, (2) Simple text description (3) Styles of questions you might ask that the algorithm might service.
Week 2
- Completed Onshape self-paced courses:
- Navigating Onshape
- Intro to Sketching
- Part Design Using Part Studios
- Multi-Part Part Studios
- Onshape Assemblies
- Learning how to use Wiki for my BDML page
- Attended Silicon Valley Energy Summit 2019 at the Arrillaga Alumni Center, Stanford Environmental & Energy Policy Analysis Center on Friday
Takeaways:
![](http://bdml.stanford.edu/uploads/Main/SummerGeckoRob/SVES.jpg)
James Sweeney, professor, Management Science & Engineering Dept., Stanford
- The issues are morfing, but not going away
- Energy Security was original issue, now Risk issues:
- Consequences of fire, autonomous vehicles, & new utility supply growth
Phil Sharp, former U.S. Member of Congress; president emeritus, Resources for the Future
- How to deal with the social cost of carbon? Carbon tax?
- To diminish worry in the populous, there is less reporting on climate change
- Federal climate action back in the spotlight:
- Bringing urgency
- Equity concern
- You can have strong climate action & prosperity
- Trends in debate:
- Move away from specific renewable energies to new possible technologies, toward "carbon-free"
- Alternative fuels and cars
- Focus on electrification
- Zero emissions vehicle
- Emphasis on the importance of civic engagement
Startup founders and Cyclotron Road fellows are using advanced technologies aimed for positive societal change:
Adrian Albert, Terrafuse
- Physics-enabled AI for climate risk
- Increase in wildfires due to climate change will double in next few years
- Ice caps are melting faster than anticipated
- Less snow pack in Sierras
- We are unequipped to handle these problems
Cara Beasley, Aligned Carbon
- Single-walled carbon nano-tubes are enabling 1000x increase in computing
- Solved monolithic 3D integration
Cody Finke, Brimestone Energy
- Co-generating hydrogen from cement manufacture
Jill Fuss, CinderBio
- Enzymes are the apps of the biological world
- Using bacteria and yeast as production hosts
- Archaea, (domain Archaea), any of a group of single-celled prokaryotic organisms (organisms whose cells lack a defined nucleus) that have distinct molecular characteristics separating them from bacteria. Archaea live in the extremes of life: hydrothermal vents (235o F), acidic soils-most acid-tolerant organisms known-able to grow in about pH 0, marshes, hot springs, and guts of animals, including humans.
- Some current applications:
- Industrial biotech
- Cleaning in dairy industry
Kate Gordon, director, Gov. Newsom's Office of Planning & Research
- 2019-2020 budget
- $250 million for climate-related programs
- $235 million wildfire protection & recovery
- Big Issues
- Fires-put carbon in atmosphere
- Climate change makes fires more sever & frequent
- Population growth & living in dangerous (due to fires) areas
- Utilities (PGE bankruptcy)
- Housing & Transportation
- Need communities and transportation to be planned together
- Need more walk ability-obesity on rise in CA
- 80,000 drive over Altamont pass/daily
- Car rebates for electric vehicles and retiring vehicles
- 25% of vehicles in downtown SF are Uber and Lyft
*Thanks Capella for the event recommendation!
Week 1
- Met with Tony and a lot of the amazing BDML crew, who helped me get situated
- Helped Sam, Allison, and Ileana fill hydraulic line with oil for the In-Bore MRI-guided Liver Biopsy Haptic Device
![](http://bdml.stanford.edu/uploads/Main/SummerGeckoRob/Sam1.jpg)
Sam orchestrates the oil fill
![](http://bdml.stanford.edu/uploads/Main/SummerGeckoRob/Haptic.jpg)
Closeup of oil-filled line
- Dismantled the motor and prop assemblies from 2 quad copters for Mark's upcoming conference. Thank you for making me feel at home by being able to use a hand tool!
![](http://bdml.stanford.edu/uploads/Main/SummerGeckoRob/Quadcopters.jpg)
Quad copters
- Going through tutorials in Onshape-the only product development platform that unites CAD, data management, collaboration tools and real-time analytics
- Massive upgrade from my AutoCAD 2003 skill set
- Goal is to finish Tony's NASA Bi-Stable Gripper drawing on Onshape
- First week big takeaway was the interaction with scale. In my shop, we deal with inches and fractions, typically down to a maximum of 1/32". At BDML, they converse down to microns (aka: micrometer/micrometre). A micron is equal to one thousandth of a millimeter, 0.001 mm, or about 0.000039 inch
- This is a personal paradigm shift from the directly visible to that which is indiscernible(not counting aides like a microscope)
Page last modified on August 02, 2019, at 02:06 PM